Egypt needs more drinkable water – how windy coastal resorts could help: Egypt is facing a growing water crisis due to its arid climate, limited water resources, and rapidly increasing population. The country of 114 million people depends heavily on the longest river in the world, the Nile, for fresh water. But rising demand for …
Zanzibar’s baobab trees used to be a valued part of society – drone images help prove it: Baobab trees may be a proxy for measuring long-term use of land by humans. They live long, have economic benefits, and are used as shrines and markers on landscapes. Archaeologists have long suspected an association between baobabs and …
Netflix’s Dept Q. suggests that psychological trauma might help a detective investigate – neuroscience backs this up: Carl Morck is psychologically damaged. He’s socially insufferable. And he’s a departmental embarrassment. Yet this broken man becomes an incredibly effective investigator. Welcome to the brilliant paradox of Netflix’s Dept. Q, where mental trauma doesn’t disable – it …
Africa’s power pools: what the G20 can do to help countries share electricity: South Africa holds the presidency of the G20 this year. The group is made up of 19 of the world’s largest economies, the European Union and the African Union. A priority of South Africa’s G20 presidency is African connectivity: promoting cross-border energy …
Lagos slum evictions don’t work: 6 ways city planners can actually help the poor: Millions of people in Lagos live in slums. Slums typically have poor housing infrastructure and sanitation, and limited access to education, health facilities and clean drinking water. These challenges make the people who live in slums vulnerable to health crises, high …
Four lifestyle habits that might just help you live to 100: Resilience to stress is important when it comes to longevity. Sabrina Bracher/ Shutterstock A 115-year-old Surrey woman named Ethel Caterham has officially been handed the title of the oldest living human alive. Many people reading this news may wonder what Caterham’s secret is. While …
How existential philosophy can help you to cope with anguish: Automat by Edward Hopper (1927). Des Moines Art Center “Am I with the right person?” Most of us have probably asked ourselves this question at least once in our life. I certainly have. To help you out, your friends might ask: “Well, do you love …
Three strategies to help European carmakers regain their edge: sylv1rob1/Shutterstock Even before US president Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on all imported cars, European automakers had been facing a multitude of challenges. Sales have slumped and manufacturers face rising costs, while Chinese rivals have rapidly been gaining market share. The day before the tariffs …
Shop smarter, not harder. How gentle messaging can help the planet more than tough talk: Heavy-handed messaging? Andy Soloman/Shutterstock Fast fashion is booming, but so is its environmental toll. With up to 10% of global carbon emissions linked to the industry, the over-consumption of cheap clothing has made sustainability campaigns more vital than ever. Yet, …
Trips to the playground and jigsaw puzzles: five surprising ways to help children learn to write: Rachaphak/Shutterstock It’s a milestone that leaves parents beaming with pride: the first time their child shakily writes out their own name. And it’s the start of many more key childhood moments, from Christmas lists to writing their own stories. …
How virtual reality could help revive endangered language and culture: Every two weeks, a language is at risk of disappearing. According to the UN, at least 50% of the 7,000 different languages spoken around the world today could either disappear or become seriously endangered by the end of this century, leading to a significant loss …
Post-flood recovery: lessons from Germany and Nigeria on how to help people cope with loss and build resilience: Extreme climate events — floods, droughts and heatwaves — are not just becoming more frequent; they are also more severe. It’s important to understand how communities can recover from these events in ways that also build resilience …
Children in west Africa are often sent to live with other families to help them get ahead – but fostering may be doing the opposite: In west Africa, it’s common for families to foster children informally. This helps ease the burden on parents and can give children from poorer families a chance to improve their …
The menopause can increase your likelihood of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes and hypertension — but exercise can help lower risk: Combined strength and endurance workouts improved several of the risk factors associated with cardiometabolic diseases. Yiistocking/ Shutterstock The menopause affects all women differently – and each person’s experience is unique. While some women …
How to help your child as they start at primary school: Evgeny Atamanenko/Shutterstock Starting primary school is a momentous and exciting time for children. A positive start to school has been linked to children’s social and academic success in their first year at school. Children generally adjust well to new environments, routines and structure. However, …
South Africa is changing its retirement rules to help boost country savings: how it will work: A study of 160 countries, spanning 60 years of economic history, establishes that there is no country that has been able to transition from “poor to prosperous” without a high savings rate. And that households – in other words …
Ramaphosa made practical choices for South Africa’s multi-party cabinet – how this will help him down the line: South African president Cyril Ramaphosa’s multi-party cabinet of national unity has been sworn in. Much of the attention leading up to the announcement of ministerial portfolios focused on the acrimonious negotiations between the Democratic Alliance and the …
Horn of Africa droughts: how a network of groundwater bores could help – study: The Horn of Africa recently suffered its worst drought in almost half a century, and its sixth failed rainfall season in a row. Fifty million people were directly affected and 100 million more were indirectly affected. About 20 million people risked …